Crown and Coke Cocktail Recipe

A Crown and Coke is a simple whisky and cola drink. You pour Crown Royal over ice, then top it with cola. If you want a little extra pop, add a lime wedge (that small squeeze of citrus helps a lot). It fits right in on game day, at a backyard grill, or on a quiet night at home.

Here’s the thing. It looks foolproof, but it can end up tasting too sweet or too weak if you just pour cola and hope for the best. A lot of people add way too much soda, and the drink turns into a flat, sugary mess.

The reason Crown and Coke stays so popular is because it feels familiar and takes almost no effort. If you like whisky and you want something quick and smooth, this one just works. In this crown and coke cocktail recipe, you’ll learn the best Crown to Coke ratio, how to keep your drink cold and bubbly, and a quick citrus trick that brightens everything up. You’ll also get easy twists like Crown Royal Apple, Crown Royal Vanilla, and Crown Royal Peach, plus a few quick serving tips. For balance, I stick to a 2:1 cola to whisky ratio when I make these for friends.

What's in a Crown and Coke Cocktail?

A Crown and Coke is as simple as it sounds. You pour Crown Royal whisky over ice, then top it with cola. That’s it. If you want to cut the sweetness a bit, add a lime wedge or a quick squeeze of lemon (it makes the drink taste brighter).

Ingredients Notes and Substitutions

Crown Royal whisky - It has smooth vanilla and oak notes, and it tastes really good with cola’s caramel flavor. Nothing clashes. It all comes together into an easy, smooth sip.

Crown Royal has other options you can try later, but the regular bottle is perfect for a classic Crown and Coke cocktail.

If you don’t have Crown, you can use another whisky and still make a solid drink. But if you want the flavor most people expect from a Crown and Coke, Crown Royal is the best pick, so grab a bottle when you can.

Cola - Regular cola is the standard, but Coke and Pepsi don’t taste the same. One can feel sweeter, and that can change the whole drink.

You can eyeball the cola, but measuring helps more than you’d think. It keeps your Crown and Coke tasting consistent every time you make it.

Want fewer calories? Use diet cola or Coke Zero for a Crown and Diet. You’ll still get that whisky flavor, just with less sweetness.

Equipment You'll Need

You don’t need much, but having the basics makes this drink easier to put together.

• Highball glass (or rocks glass)
• Jigger
• Bar spoon

If you want everything in one place, a stainless steel cocktail tool set that includes a jigger and bar spoon is super handy.

How to Make a Crown and Coke Cocktail

Making a Crown and Coke takes less than two minutes. You only need a few basics, and you don’t need any real bar skills.

Start by filling a lowball glass with ice. Lots of ice keeps the drink cold and helps it not taste too sweet or too strong. Pour your Crown Royal whisky over the ice first.

Next, top it with cola until it looks right to you. I like to leave a little space at the top (about half an inch) so it doesn’t splash when you stir.

Give it one quick stir with a bar spoon or even a straw. Keep it gentle. You want the whisky and cola to mix, but you don’t want to lose all the fizz.

Add a lime wedge or a lemon wheel if you want (it’s optional), but that little bit of citrus can make the whole drink taste brighter.

After you make it a couple times, you’ll know what you like. If you want it stronger, add a splash more whisky. If you want it sweeter, add a little more cola.

After a few tries, you’ll naturally land on the ratio that tastes best to you, then it’s easy to repeat every time.

For exact measurements, check the recipe card below.

Tips and Tricks to Make the Best Crown and Coke

• Start with a solid base ratio. 1 part Crown Royal to 2 parts cola gives you a good balance of whisky flavor and sweet fizz.
• Want it stronger? Add a little more Crown Royal. Want it lighter? Go with 3 parts cola instead.
• Give it one quick gentle stir. You want the whisky and cola to mix, but you do not want to knock out all the bubbles.
• Add citrus if you like a brighter drink. A quick squeeze of lemon cuts the sweetness. A lime wedge works great too (even just the aroma helps).

Crown and Coke Recipe Variations

You can change up your Crown and Coke in a bunch of easy ways and still keep that classic vibe.

• Diet or Zero Sugar Crown and Coke
  Swap in diet cola or Coke Zero for a lighter drink. You’ll notice the whisky more since there’s less sweetness covering it up.
• Crown and Cherry Coke (or vanilla or spiced cola)
  Cherry Coke makes it sweeter and more dessert like. Vanilla or spiced cola gives it a warmer flavor. This one is fun for parties.
• Crown Royal Apple and Cola
  Crown Royal Apple adds a crisp tart edge that tastes a bit like caramel apple with cola. Great for casual hangs (especially in cooler weather).
• Crown Royal Vanilla and Cola
  Crown Royal Vanilla gives you that vanilla cola float vibe without the ice cream. If you like sweeter drinks, you’ll probably love this.
• Crown Royal Peach and Cola
  Crown Royal Peach makes it fruitier and softer. This one feels perfect for BBQs and warm weather.
• Crown Royal Black and Cola
  Crown Royal Black is bolder, so it doesn’t get lost in the cola. Go with this if you want a more whisky forward version.
• Stronger bar style serve
  Use a smaller glass, add a little more Crown Royal, and use less cola for a punchier sip. Just pace yourself since it goes down easy.
• Citrus forward Crown and Coke
  Add a bigger squeeze of lemon or lime to cut the sweetness and make it taste brighter. Then use a little less cola so it stays balanced.

More Coke Cocktails to Try

If you like Crown and Coke, you’ll probably like these too.

• Jack and Coke
• Rum and Coke
• Cuba Libre
• Whiskey and Coke
• Kalimotxo
• Gin and Coke
• Vodka and Coke
• Tequila and Coke
• Hennessy and Coke

If you want more easy drink ideas, check out these guides on whiskey mixer ideas and simple whiskey drinks plus more easy cocktails with just a few ingredients and two ingredient bourbon drink ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions